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Hazel (1853 KP) rated The Glass Magician (The Paper Magician Trilogy, #2) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
<i>This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</i>
The magic continues in Charlie N. Holmberg’s latest novel <i>The Glass Magician</i>. It is three months since the ending of <i>The Paper Magician</i> and Ceony is still apprenticing under Magician Thane – now mostly referred to as Emery. Despite the near death experiences of both the characters in the previous book, Ceony is well on her way to become a Folder – a magician that uses paper.
When an explosion occurs at a paper mill that Ceony is visiting, she realizes that not all her problems have been solved. Her defeat of an evil Excisioner has resulted in two more wanted criminals on her tail. Mistakenly, Ceony believes she can tackle this problem by herself, putting those she loves in danger.
As well as the characters from the first book, <i>The Glass Magician</i> contains a few new names including Delilah, an apprentice of a glass magician, who is a similar age to Ceony. Through Delilah the reader is introduced to another form of magic using glass or more precisely, in the case of this novel, mirrors.
In comparison to <i>The Paper Magician</i> there is a more romantic theme running throughout the book. Events of the past have brought Ceony and Emery closer together causing Ceony to fall in love with him, however she is uncertain whether Emery feels the same way. Even so, fantasy or steampunk remained the key genre.
A criticism I had of the first book was that the characters felt far too modern for the time period it was set in. The case was the same in <i>The Glass Magician</i>, although this may be more to do with the author’s writing style and therefore was unlike to differ. On the other hand the events in this book were more plausible and therefore less confusing which ultimately makes this a slightly better story.
Readers need to have read <i>The Paper Magician</i> before starting this book, as it requires knowledge of previous events, which are vital to the story line. If you loved the first book it is almost guaranteed that you will love the second.
The magic continues in Charlie N. Holmberg’s latest novel <i>The Glass Magician</i>. It is three months since the ending of <i>The Paper Magician</i> and Ceony is still apprenticing under Magician Thane – now mostly referred to as Emery. Despite the near death experiences of both the characters in the previous book, Ceony is well on her way to become a Folder – a magician that uses paper.
When an explosion occurs at a paper mill that Ceony is visiting, she realizes that not all her problems have been solved. Her defeat of an evil Excisioner has resulted in two more wanted criminals on her tail. Mistakenly, Ceony believes she can tackle this problem by herself, putting those she loves in danger.
As well as the characters from the first book, <i>The Glass Magician</i> contains a few new names including Delilah, an apprentice of a glass magician, who is a similar age to Ceony. Through Delilah the reader is introduced to another form of magic using glass or more precisely, in the case of this novel, mirrors.
In comparison to <i>The Paper Magician</i> there is a more romantic theme running throughout the book. Events of the past have brought Ceony and Emery closer together causing Ceony to fall in love with him, however she is uncertain whether Emery feels the same way. Even so, fantasy or steampunk remained the key genre.
A criticism I had of the first book was that the characters felt far too modern for the time period it was set in. The case was the same in <i>The Glass Magician</i>, although this may be more to do with the author’s writing style and therefore was unlike to differ. On the other hand the events in this book were more plausible and therefore less confusing which ultimately makes this a slightly better story.
Readers need to have read <i>The Paper Magician</i> before starting this book, as it requires knowledge of previous events, which are vital to the story line. If you loved the first book it is almost guaranteed that you will love the second.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2057 KP) rated The Floating Light Bulb in Books
Jul 5, 2018
Eli Finds Himself Creating Magic and Stalking a Killer at the Mall of America
Magician Eli Marks and his uncle Harry are taking in a magic act at the Mall of America since the magician is a former student of Harry’s. The show is lackluster at best, but it gets worse when the magician misses a cue at the end of the show. It turns out that’s because the magician is dead, and soon Eli finds himself taking his place in an effort to help find the killer. Will he learn anything useful?
Part of this book finds Eli learning a new trick and interacting with his new co-workers, something that I felt overwhelmed the mystery at times. Things were still sprinkled in that helped lead us to the surprising and satisfying conclusion, however. And I loved seeing Eli interacting with his new co-workers, so I had fun the entire way through the book. The cast of characters is fantastic as always, including getting to see some regulars who were missing in the previous book.
Part of this book finds Eli learning a new trick and interacting with his new co-workers, something that I felt overwhelmed the mystery at times. Things were still sprinkled in that helped lead us to the surprising and satisfying conclusion, however. And I loved seeing Eli interacting with his new co-workers, so I had fun the entire way through the book. The cast of characters is fantastic as always, including getting to see some regulars who were missing in the previous book.
Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) created a video about Deception in TV
Nov 3, 2017
Hazel (1853 KP) rated The Paper Magician (The Paper Magician Trilogy, #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
<i>This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</i>
<i>The Paper Magician</i> is the first in a trilogy of fantasy books by Charlie N. Holmberg. Set in London in the early 1900s it explores the idea of magic in a unique and original way. The protagonist, Ceony Twill, is only nineteen and has recently graduated from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined. For the next few years of her life she is to be apprenticed to a magician who will teach her to use the magic of their chosen material. To Ceony’s disgust she is paired with Magician Emery Thane, a Folder. She is going to spend the rest her life bonded to an extremely boring object: paper.
Ceony and the reader soon discover that there is a particular art to folding paper correctly in order to produce something (e.g. a paper bird) that lives and breathes. But there is something peculiar about Mg. Thane and he ends up in a life and death situation that only Ceony can save him from.
The originality of the plot made this book fascinating to read. A large variety of magical abilities have been explored throughout novels over the years but until now I have not read one that focuses on the material paper. The author has taken something that exists in the known world – origami – and given it a whole new purpose.
Both Ceony and Mg. Thane are likable characters that have a variety of character traits that appeal to a range of different personalities. There were times when their behaviour and speech felt too contemporary for the historical setting resulting in the time period being completely irrelevant to the narrative. Despite this the general storyline was still exciting.
Fantasy novels naturally involve ideas a little beyond the average person’s comprehension, however the middle of <i>The Paper Magician</i> became so far fetched that it was a little confusing for a while.
Overall, <i>The Paper Magician</i> is a fast paced, easy to read book suitable for young adults and fans of fantasy and magic. The story continues in <i>The Glass Magician</i> and the third and finally book can be expected in 2015.
<i>The Paper Magician</i> is the first in a trilogy of fantasy books by Charlie N. Holmberg. Set in London in the early 1900s it explores the idea of magic in a unique and original way. The protagonist, Ceony Twill, is only nineteen and has recently graduated from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined. For the next few years of her life she is to be apprenticed to a magician who will teach her to use the magic of their chosen material. To Ceony’s disgust she is paired with Magician Emery Thane, a Folder. She is going to spend the rest her life bonded to an extremely boring object: paper.
Ceony and the reader soon discover that there is a particular art to folding paper correctly in order to produce something (e.g. a paper bird) that lives and breathes. But there is something peculiar about Mg. Thane and he ends up in a life and death situation that only Ceony can save him from.
The originality of the plot made this book fascinating to read. A large variety of magical abilities have been explored throughout novels over the years but until now I have not read one that focuses on the material paper. The author has taken something that exists in the known world – origami – and given it a whole new purpose.
Both Ceony and Mg. Thane are likable characters that have a variety of character traits that appeal to a range of different personalities. There were times when their behaviour and speech felt too contemporary for the historical setting resulting in the time period being completely irrelevant to the narrative. Despite this the general storyline was still exciting.
Fantasy novels naturally involve ideas a little beyond the average person’s comprehension, however the middle of <i>The Paper Magician</i> became so far fetched that it was a little confusing for a while.
Overall, <i>The Paper Magician</i> is a fast paced, easy to read book suitable for young adults and fans of fantasy and magic. The story continues in <i>The Glass Magician</i> and the third and finally book can be expected in 2015.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2057 KP) rated Mind Over Magic (Psych, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Shawn and Gus are hired to find a magician that disappeared during his magic trick and figure out who the dead guy was who appeared in the magic tank in his place. The series characters were spot on and the plot was the zany fun you'd expect from this franchise.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-psych-mind-over-magic-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-psych-mind-over-magic-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Aces Wilde (Immortal Vegas, #5) in Books
Jan 7, 2021
Oooh, this series!
Admittedly some bits bore me (generally the history associated with the treasure hunting) but the actual treasure hunting itself? Well, that bits fun. Very Indiana Jones/Lara Croft only with tarot cards. But really, for me, it's Sara and the Magician, and that chemistry they have burning between them. Please tell me that reaches boiling point soon..?
And then that bit at the end. Need book 6!<br/>
Admittedly some bits bore me (generally the history associated with the treasure hunting) but the actual treasure hunting itself? Well, that bits fun. Very Indiana Jones/Lara Croft only with tarot cards. But really, for me, it's Sara and the Magician, and that chemistry they have burning between them. Please tell me that reaches boiling point soon..?
And then that bit at the end. Need book 6!<br/>
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2057 KP) rated The Bullet Catch (An Eli Marks Mystery #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Eli’s high school friend Jake is in town making a movie about a magician who dies during a performance of the dangerous bullet catch illusion. Only Jake thinks that someone is going to kill him when they film that scene, and he asks Eli, a magician, to help prevent that from happening. Meanwhile, Eli reconnects with his high school crush, Trish, as their reunion only to have Trish’s husband be murdered the next morning. Can Eli solve the crime?
With two mysteries happening at once, this book never slows down. Both stories feature some great twists along the way to a logical conclusion. The book is filled with outstanding characters as well, both returning and new. About the only thing that bothered me was Eli’s crippling fear of heights, which never seemed to bother him at home.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-bullet-catch-by-john.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
With two mysteries happening at once, this book never slows down. Both stories feature some great twists along the way to a logical conclusion. The book is filled with outstanding characters as well, both returning and new. About the only thing that bothered me was Eli’s crippling fear of heights, which never seemed to bother him at home.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-bullet-catch-by-john.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Tom Turner (388 KP) rated The Traitor Queen (Traitor Spy Trilogy, #3) in Books
Apr 30, 2021
As with all the books in both the Black Magician and Traitor Spy series' this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I can't help feeling that there may be more books to come from Canavan set in this particular works because there were things I felt were either let open for a new series or say up ready for one too. Now she's just finished the Millennium Rule series, native maybe we will see her return to the Guild soon. If she does, I'll definitely be reading!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2057 KP) rated The Zombie Ball in Books
Sep 4, 2019
You’ll Have a Ball
Magician Eli Marks has been hired at the last minute to perform as the opening act at the Zombie Ball, an annual local fundraiser, when the originally scheduled magician backs out. He hasn’t been going out much since his divorce, but he needs the money, so he agrees to do the gig that night. Of course, Eli quickly sees tensions going on behind the scenes, including two competing top donors who everyone is handling with kid gloves and trying to keep away from each other. Then someone is murdered, and Eli finds himself involved with the case. Will he figure out what really happened?
While this is the sixth book in the series, it is mostly set in the past, with events taking place before book 1. While I missed seeing some of the series regulars and getting some updates on ongoing storylines, I was quickly caught up in the story, and I enjoyed seeing a different side of the few regulars we did see. The body isn’t found until later in the book than normal, but I was enjoying spending time with Eli and getting to know the suspects. Sure enough, things that happened and we learned came into play once the murder has been discovered, and I was impressed with how Eli pieced everything together. The story hinges on the suspects being strong, and fortunately, they are. This story is shorter than many of the books I read, but it was long enough to tell the story, and it was nice to breeze through a book quickly. While we don’t learn any of the secrets of magic, I still enjoy the behind the scenes glimpses we do get of the life of a magician. Whether a new or returning fan, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.
While this is the sixth book in the series, it is mostly set in the past, with events taking place before book 1. While I missed seeing some of the series regulars and getting some updates on ongoing storylines, I was quickly caught up in the story, and I enjoyed seeing a different side of the few regulars we did see. The body isn’t found until later in the book than normal, but I was enjoying spending time with Eli and getting to know the suspects. Sure enough, things that happened and we learned came into play once the murder has been discovered, and I was impressed with how Eli pieced everything together. The story hinges on the suspects being strong, and fortunately, they are. This story is shorter than many of the books I read, but it was long enough to tell the story, and it was nice to breeze through a book quickly. While we don’t learn any of the secrets of magic, I still enjoy the behind the scenes glimpses we do get of the life of a magician. Whether a new or returning fan, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.
Lynne (18 KP) rated Magician: Apprentice (The Riftwar Saga, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
Book one of the Riftwar Saga is a definite must read. I've seen Raymond Feist's books on the shelf for years and only now decided to read one. This and the second, Magician Master ,were originally written as one book. It tells the story of Pug, who rises from an orphan to become one of the most powerful magicians in any kingdom. Feist writes beautifully , making the reader forget the real world and become fully immersed in theirs. Definite addition to anyone's list that appreciates an epic fantasy story.